Ive been reading around and i kinda see this seems to be a problem with the 3.0 and ive seen all kinds of different possibilities. Well here is the stats..

1994 Ranger 4x4 Extended Cab
3.0L V6 5 Speed
175,000 miles

Here is the problem...

Any time Hot or Cold when you let off the clutch the truck will almost stall out and slowly climb RPM's to about 1800 then you feel a small jerk and seems like everything is normal with a few small twitches through the RPMS .Truck will not run cold, the harder you push the gas, the more it feels like its pushing back, just jerks, and bucks and wont go. After warming up truck will go through 1st thru 4th ok, like i said earlier, almost stalls, then 1800 it picks up. You might as well forget about 5th, cuz as soon as you shft to 5th, it just slows down, absolutely no pulling power in 5th gear. The smallest of hills will have you downshifting to 3rd, sometimes 2nd to get up. Just all around sluggish and no power,also bad gas milage (227 miles per tank)

What I've done..

Gutted the cats
changed plugs and rechecked yesterday( looked perfect, slight brown color to all 6)
Checked wires, Distributor Cap
Cleaned MAF sensor, IAC Sensor
Seafoam in the Gas Tank
New Air Filter, Fuel Filter (Fuel was Clean)
Fixed Stretched Throttle Cable

I am at a loss on this one, Ive done all i know to do and need some help to figure it out, There is a exhaust leak on the drivers side doughnut gasket, but i dont think that would cause it. Planning on fixing soon. I really would appreciate some help to get this thing fixed since this is my dads truck and he is not currently able to fix it himself.

 

This might not help much and I seen you ran seafoam through your gas tank try sucking some into the brake booster vaccum line I did again today and got ALOT of power back

 

i had a hesitation problem at about 1800 rpms........... replaced the ECT sensor and it fixed it.

may not help but worth the $9.00 try.

 

Ok i will try the seafoam in the brake booster line, what do you do, just unplug the line and stick it in the can of seafoam? and I probably know this, but what is the ECT sensor? and where is it at?

 

Sounds like a stretched timing chain and worn timing gears.

 

Ive been wondering about the timing also, is there an easy way to check for this? and that ECT sensor, whats that and where it at?

 

Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor = up top front of the motor, near the radiator hose.

 

the problem i have with my 3.0 is when im on the freeway and when a hill comes up ill be in 5th gear and the pedal to the floor but nothing happens...but other than that it pulls.

 

I thought a 3.0L being sluggish was normal?

 

175k Miles, it's tired.

 

put that baby down to sleep!

 

thats what i was going to say.. 3.slow or 3.no go.. it has the names for a reason lol

thats what i did, later to find out(should have been common sense) that you can hydrolock the engine doing it if you pull too much in too fast so be careful

i think the can says to suck it out of a cap or bowl...

 

ya im finding out that a 3.0 was a bad idea...


but im thinking in the future to possibly swap it...maybe a diesel...but what size V8s can you put in them?

 

302, 351, 4.6? w/e that is lol(tight squeeze)

do a diesel.. so much cooler

 

4bt 4bt 4bt 4bt 4bt 4bt Ftw!!

 

psh
5.9

 

Just mix it with half gas and you will be ok. I always seafoam before a sparkplug change, just in case I foul a plug like I have in the past.

 

Don't know why everyone picks on the poor little 3.0. I personally think its good motor. If I can get 175000 miles out of mine I'll be happy with it.

I'd start with a compression test and work from there.

 

I agree, mine is just fine for what I need. I bought a truck not a sports car.

 

its nice to have a little extra power climbing and throwin snow/mud

 

That's because the 5th gear is like overdrive, it has nothing to it but lowers the rpm's. Ford said it's a 5 speed, but it's really a 4 speed w/ OD.

 

So what happens when you turn OD off on the console?

Do you then lose or gain a fifth gear?

 

problem #1 you own a 3.0L

problem solved...

 

Yep thats about it. Its a good strong motor though, will run forever and gets semi-decent gas mileage.

 

The little 3.0L is enough for me but if you need a little more you should either put a 302 if you want a gasser and a cummins 4bt if you want a diesel.